White teeth are an important way to enhance your beauty and demonstrate that you take care of yourself. If you notice that your teeth aren't as white as you'd like, follow these simple tips to help bring out your teeth's natural pearly white color.

Quit Smoking

As if there weren't numerous health reasons to quit smoking, it also turns your teeth yellow, even if you are regularly brushing your teeth. Smoking will undo any work you put into keeping your teeth clean and white, so it's important to stop the habit before starting your teeth whitening regiment. If you have been smoking, it will take a while for the yellowing to fade, so don’t expect immediate results.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling can be used to remove plaque and bad bacteria from your mouth. To oil pull, you place a small amount of oil, usually coconut, in your mouth and swish it around for twenty minutes. The oil essentially pulls the stains out of your teeth, but it could take some time to see drastic effects. The other huge advantage of oil pulling is that it does not hurt your teeth. It won't ruin the enamel on your teeth, and it has actually been proven to help prevent gingivitis.

Teeth Whitening

If you want faster results, teeth whitening can help you get a brilliant smile almost immediately. However, before you get your teeth whitened, you need to make sure that they are healthy. As Markham Dental points out, teeth whitening doesn’t improve your dental health, so your teeth need to be healthy enough to complete the procedure when you start.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has a lot of uses and providing quality teeth whitening is just another one. The acidic properties allow it to kill the bacteria in your mouth that cause stains on your teeth, but you need to be careful not to use too much at once or use it too often. The acidic properties that help remove stains can also cause your enamel to break down, so make sure you dilute it before using.

Healthy Snacks

What you eat can significantly affect the color of your teeth. Processed foods are usually high in acid, which eats at your teeth. Soda and other soft drinks will do the same thing, so it might be a good idea to cut back on sugary drinks. You should also consider limiting the amount of coffee, tea, red wine, and blueberries that you eat, as these have all been shown to contribute to teeth stains.

White teeth allow you to smile more and portray beauty and confidence. Follow these tips so that you can smile at anyone with confidence.

Every once in a while, you may get the urge to change up your look. You could go for the expensive route of doing a full makeover, but those aren’t very practical, and most people can’t afford that. Instead, consider these less expensive options to create a new look.

Change Your Hair

A haircut is a common go-to for the woman seeking a new look. But you don’t have to head to the salon to make an impact. Instead, try wearing your hair in a slightly different way. Change the part or your go-to hairstyle. If you usually put your hair up in a ponytail, switch to a half ponytail or leave it down. You can use a headband to keep your hair out of your face if that is a problem. You can even shake things up with bright, colorful temporary hair dyes, chalks, and spray-on coloring.

Exercise

This may seem like a cliché, but it really does work. Even if you already exercise or you are in great shape, taking up a new form of exercise can revitalize you. You get a chance to work out different muscle groups, which can give them more definition. You can also take advantage of the post-workout glow that looks great on everyone. Just make sure you shower afterward!

Change Up Your Scent

How you smell can have a huge impact on whether other people want to around you or not, which is why people use deodorants as well as perfume and cologne. If you want to make a subtle change to your look, consider changing up your perfume. You can use essential oils to create the scent you are looking for while helping stay relaxed. You can either use a pre-blended oil or come up with your own. There are plenty of ideas out there to help you create the perfect essential oil blend, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Try a New Makeup Look

If you have been using the same makeup colors and application for a while, it may be fun to change that up. You don’t need to go crazy, but switching up even a little bit can produce a fresh look. You could choose a new lipstick or add a little bit more color to your eyeshadow. Makeup offers virtually limitless ways to create new looks every day.

Accessorize

Accessories are a great way to give your wardrobe new life without breaking the bank. You can use jewelry, shoes, scarves, or hats to add a pop to your clothes or to change the way something normally looks. Different combinations can yield a completely new look, so spend some time experimenting in front of your mirror until you find what you want.

There are always new things that you can try to change up your look. It’s nice to get a bit of a makeover, especially if you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it, so pick one of these ideas to try soon.

As you get older, certain chemicals and hormones need to be replaced in your body. The skin shows wrinkles and liver spots as you age. You need more energy and antioxidants to remain youthful. Use one or more natural-based remedies to reduce the effects of aging.

Diet for Youth

Many effects of aging on the skin and on the rest of the body are a function of what we put in our bodies. For example, as women age, foods like avocados and soy will help regulate their hormones to preserve youthful energy levels and sex drive. Kyani recommends accenting your diet with antioxidant-rich berries to combat free radicals. Both men and women should avoid simple carbs like sugar, as well as trans-fats throughout their lives.

Natural Anti-Aging Creams

Creams are more saturated than lotions and more efficient at fighting wrinkles. In stores, you'll find anti-aging creams that contain antioxidants and vitamins, but there are dozens of other synthetic ingredients included. Using toxin-filled products is detrimental to your health and will hasten the aging process.

In anti-wrinkle creams, it's common to find retinoids, which are also used in Vitamin A supplements. These compounds are proven to treat wrinkles by increasing the skin's firmness and elasticity. There is Vitamin C to heal skin tissue damage and Coenzyme Q10 to increase the levels of elastin and collagen. Look for ingredients with antioxidants that remove injuries from the skin.

After you add the essential anti-aging elements, add favorite ingredients like coconut oil or cocoa butter. Aloe vera gel is recommended to treat the skin. Overall, add small amounts of moisturizers, or you will have a cream that creates acne in place of wrinkles.

Natural Exfoliating Scrubs

Like creams, store-bought exfoliating scrubs contain chemicals that are more toxic than beneficial. Make your own scrubs using your favorite ingredients, such as papaya or honey, and the alpha hydroxy acids needed to exfoliate dead skin cells. The main benefit of DIY products is that you have more ingredient choices than what you would find in the store.

Natural Soaps and Cleansers

Make an anti-aging soap or cleanser instead of using plain water to rinse your skin. Commercial soaps have detergents that dry out the skin and toxins that contribute to wrinkling. Cleanse to remove unwanted particles from your skin without drying it out.

Add oils and moisturizing agents to prevent dry skin. Find olive oil easily in stores along with shea butter, coconut oil, and various essential oils. Use ingredients that are high in vitamins E and A for optimal skin health.

It's not ideal to combine exfoliation with cleansing. Cleansing is done at the most basic level of skincare. Some cleansers are effective with only two or three ingredients.

Reversing the effects of aging is not possible when you use toxic products. Cut down on the activities, such as smoking and unhealthy eating, that cause more wrinkles to appear and speed up the aging process. Look for all-natural remedies to restore the youth in your aging body.

Taking care of your skin is one of the best ways to become more healthy, beautiful, and mindful of your body. Whether your skin care routine involves one product or ten, the ingredients are the most important part. Some replenish and nourish, but others can harm your skin. Become a conscious consumer with this guide. Your skin will thank you!

Antioxidants

These naturally occurring compounds are found in plants and directly to aid cell health. Antioxidants target free radicals, chemicals that can damage DNA. Eating antioxidant-rich foods can help boost your health, and skin care products with antioxidants can lead to healthier, younger-looking skin. Natural antioxidants beneficial for the skin include acai oil, alpha-lipoic acid, green tea extract, and caffeine.

Vitamins

Vitamins A, C, E, and B3 are all antioxidants common to many skin care products. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are arguably the most powerful skin care ingredient, improving overall appearance by boosting collagen production, reducing blemishes, and smoothing skin. They're found in night creams, OTC lotions, and stronger chemical-based products.

Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, combats redness by strengthening your skin’s moisture-protecting barrier. Vitamin E is an important component of products for aiding your skin while outdoors, and can be used to soothe the skin after a day in the sun. Finally, vitamin C is the jack-of-all-trades ingredient that helps fight wrinkles, tighten skin, and fade brown spots.

Essential Oils

These powerfully scented plant extracts have been used throughout history, both aromatically and topically. Some, like basil, tree tea, and chamomile, can help skin. Others such as cypress, frankincense, lemongrass, and cinnamon help with reducing blemishes. Most essential oils should be used sparingly and with caution in skin care regimens. Some natural ingredients are potential irritants if allergic or if you have sensitive skin. Be aware and choose oils you know have worked before. doTERRA recommends using their HD Clear Skin Care washes to start, which helps soothe redness and skin irritation.  

Natural Acids

These acids are produced naturally by the body, but production slows over time. Thankfully, they are added to many skin care products as skin replenishers that target blemishes exfoliate, and hydrate. They leave the skin smooth, radiant, and soft. The best natural acids include alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Blemish products use nitric oxide to stimulate health in the face.

Irritants

Some of the most trusted skin care products have hidden irritants. Common skin care ingredients that may be hurting your skin include fragrances, synthetic colors, preservatives like parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and sulfates. Additionally, stay away from alcohols like propylene glycol, SD alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol. These ingredients not only damage the skin, some are known carcinogens and toxins with grave health impacts.

Being mindful of the ingredients in your skin care products is the first step in seeing results, protecting your skin, and reducing damage and irritation. Don’t waste your money on products that will hurt your skin. Instead, keep an eye out for only the best ingredients.

Once upon a time, I wanted my closet to say "Jackie O - timeless and sophisticated".

Then I realized, that's not me.
Or, rather, that's only a part of me.
Sure, some items in my closet are timeless and sophisticated.
They're right next to my "slightly too youthful" sundresses.
By my "fall is for tunics and leggings" collection.
Close to my "trendy but pretty much disposable" looks.
Near my "hot little vixen" dresses.
Across from my "no BS, I'm a strong woman" biz clothes.